I'd like this list to constitute some sort of conversation piece, although I fear that my rather conservative selections will fail to elicit much chatter among the cineastes here. Oh well, I might as well chip in my two cents anyway. As my list will reveal, I have auteurist sympathies. (It does make the history of cinema so much easier to digest, doesn't it?)

Let's call the order very roughly preferential. (I apologize in advance to all you Antonioni, Kiarostami, Rossellini, Oshima, and Rivette fans. I would add something but can't due to lack of either acquaintance or strong preference. I refuse to apologize to all the Fellini, Bergman, and Herzog fans out there. Well, I sorta liked Herzog's Fata Morgana, but Fellini and Bergman? Come on.)

Dreyer: Ordet / VampyrLang: M / (and from his American period:) Fury / Scarlet Street / Beyond a Reasonable DoubtOzu: Tokyo Story / Late SpringGodard: Vivra sa Vie / Two or Three Things I Know about her / Ici et AilleursBunuel: Las Hurdes / Los OlividadosMizoguchi: Life of Oharu / Sisters of the GionDavies: Distant Voices, Still Lives / The Long Day ClosesTarkovsky: StalkerVertov: The Man with the Movie CameraDudov/Brecht: Kuhle Wampe (It's much better than they'd have you believe)De Sica: Umberto DFeuillade: Les VampiresBresson: L'Argent / Au Hasard BalthazarRenoir: A Day in the CountryHamer: Kind Hearts and CoronetsFassbinder: Fox and His Friends / Effi BriestEisenstein: Ivan the Terrible, Part I

And if we're going to allow American films (let's call the order here non-preferential):

Pleased to see Mizoguchi,Tarkovsky and Renoir.A Day in the Country is such a lovely little film.I can't get enthusiastic about Fassbinder,i'm afraid,and those wouldn't me my Godard choices.I've come to admire Ordet more, on 2nd and 3rd viewings-its qualities don't thrust themselves in your face,but the controlled decor and exquisite use of black and white,and various tones of grey are quite exceptional.I remember Angelopoulos,the Greek director, wondering how anything could be so perfect. I'm delighted to see Sunrise and Night of the Hunter on your list,i suspect you have a deep knowledge and understanding of cinema,even if of course i don't share all your tastes. I think sharing such lists is important,to prompt people to reconsider existing judgements and try those films not already seen.I'm not the greatest fan of my namesake,Davies,but i'll perhaps give him another try.Kind Hearts and Coronets is certainly one of the best British films.Are you German,or was your EineKleineFilmliste misleading?The politics of Kuhle Wampe are fine by me,but i wasn't exactly blown away by it.I might try it again,though.

I'm glad to see Fassbinder in your list. I actually haven't gotten to see those two films that you mentioned. The reviews I've read of 'Effie Briest' have all said that the film is unbearable, though. I've been thinking of buying a couple of his films from Amazon ('Fox' is one that has caught my attention). Here are the ones I've actually seen so far:

Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?The American SoldierBeware of a Holy WhoreThe Bitter Tears of P.V.K. (very good)Merchant of Four Seasons (my favorite)The Stationmaster's WifeSatan's Brew (god, that was awful)Marriage of Maria BraunIn a Year of 13 MoonsVeronika Voss (pretty awful too)